4/17/2012: Metro schools need a brash new voice

Apr. 17, 2012

Eric Crafton

Written by

Eric Crafton

Politicians say our education system is improving, but parents know otherwise, and frankly, statistics don’t substantiate their rhetoric. For example, in 2008 the average ACT composite score for Metro’s students was 19.1. By 2011, that benchmark score had fallen to 18.1. Sadly, an 18 won’t get students into college and won’t qualify them for the $4,000 lottery college scholarship.

Nashville’s system does have some successes, like the 26.5 average ACT score for its two high school academic magnets, Hume Fogg and MLK. This score equals Nashville’s best private schools. But while these pockets of success are great, they must be duplicated system-wide.

Why have I been asked to run for the school board? I was an unshakable voice on the Metro Council for 12 years that advocated for educational reform. In 2005, I was the first to highlight the relevance of Nashville’s dismal 58.2 percent graduation rate and was soundly berated by the elite political establishment for revealing this fact. With graduation now a priority, today’s rate has risen to 76.2 percent. Still not high enough, but better.

So what’s my plan? First, failing students’ achievement gaps must be attacked with a sense of urgency. These students must be tutored in math and/or reading three hours daily at a 4:1 student/teacher ratio, until they reach grade-level proficiency.

High impact tutoring will enable low-achieving students to make dramatic improvements and gain proficiency more quickly. Teachers could then more effectively educate the remaining children in their core classes too, so all children can reach their full potential.

Nashville spends about $11,000 per student, $2,000 per student more than the state average, or a total of $140 million more than the state average ($2,000 times 70,000 students). Nashvillians have committed to help failing students. The money is there, so put it back into classrooms. Parents are tired of bake sales, and teachers are tired of spending money from their own pockets for students’ classroom materials.

What about the highest achieving students? Academic magnets have traditionally filled that gap, IF your child was lucky enough to win the lottery. Meigs Middle had 500 wait-listed children this year! That’s unacceptable! Parents want academic magnets. So, let’s increase access by incorporating them into existing schools in each quadrant of the county.

The Tennessean Editorial Board once wrote that the methods I used advocating public education’s improvement were too brash, but my research findings/facts were “beyond reproach.” My passion is focused on our children’s future and is still the driving force behind my “brash” sense of urgency. I never cared about being liked. I care about educating children.

My vision is that Nashville’s schools will give today’s children the same chance at success they gave me. Let’s restore academic rigor and common sense solutions to public education. Parents want it, and our children deserve it.